Automatic combined car and air-brake coupling



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. B. THOMAS. AUTOMATIC COMBINED CAR AND AIR BRAKE COUPLING,

z s cc wormjma. WASHINGTDN o c (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. B. THOMAS. AUTOMATIC COMBINED CAR AND AIR BRAKE COUPLING. No.603,824.

iimmmmmli Patented May 10,1898..

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UNITED STATE-S JAMES BRYANT THOMAS,

PATENT Grmcn.

or sT. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

AUTOMATIC COMBINED CAR AND AlR-B RAKE. COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 603,824, dated May 10,1898.

I Application filed May 13, 1897. Serial No. 636,391. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES BRYANT THOMAS, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a new anduseful Automatic Combined Car and Air-Brake Coupling, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic combined car and air-brakecouplings; and it has for its general object to effect certainimprovements in the air-brake coupling heads or shoes and the differentattachments thereof, whereby the sameshall be rendered more positive andefficient in operation.

The invention primarily embraces a generalimprovement of the combinationand construction of parts embodied in my application Serial No. 622,346,and specifically contemplates improvements upon the constructionsdisclosed in my former patents, Nos. 581,890 and 581,891.

To this end the invention provides a new and useful form of self-adjustin g hanging device or bracket for the air-brake coupling heads orshoes, whereby such heads will positively interlock or coupleirrespective of the variance in height between two cars.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and usefulform of clamp for the companion head or shoe which is used in connectionwith the pressure-adjusted con; nection set forth in one of the patentsreferred to, and another improvement contemplated by the presentinvention is in the construction and operation of the swinging orpivotal dust-shield arm, which is employed in connection with theorifice of the inner coupling-face of the head or shoe.

With these and other objects in View, which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in thenovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinaftermore fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an automatic combinedcar and airbrake coupling embodying the improvements contemplated by thepresent invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view ofa pair of companion air-brake coupling heads or shoes constructed inaccordance with this invention and shown coupled together.

Fig 3 is a similar view of one of the air-brake coupling heads or shoesshown connected with a Westinghouse or other unlike brake hosecoupling.Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, showing theform and mounting of the laterally-movable pressureadjusted clamp forthe companion head or shoe. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the innercoupling-face of one of the air-brake coupling heads or shoes, showingthe two positions occupied by the swinging pivotal dust-shield arm,which carries the oifstanding angled guide or guard tongue for thecompanion head or shoe. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the outer side of oneof the air-brake coupling heads or shoes. Fig. 7 is a detail inperspective of the dust-shield arm for the orifice in the inhercoupling-face of the head or shoe.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates anordinary automatic car-coupling head having the usual guard-arm 2 andknuckle 3 and arranged at the front end of the draw-bar 4.

The present invention contemplates for use in connection with the carcoupling-headl the automatic air-brake coupling head or shoe 5, arrangedbelow and in vertical alinement with the car coupling-head, saidautomatic airbrake coupling head or shoe 5 being adapted toautomatically couple and uncouple with a companion head or shoe at thesame time the companion car coupling heads or shoes couple and uncouple.I 7

To provide for permitting the air-brake coupling head or shoe to havethe necessary upand-down and back-and-forth movement, an improved formof self-adjusting hanging device or bracket is employed in connectiontherewith, and to provide for the proper connection between the couplinghead or shoe and said hanging device or bracket the shoe is providedatits inner or rear end with a pair of spaced perforated ears 6, which arebolted or otherwise pivotally secured in the outer bifurcated end of thepivotal segmental link-blocks 7, which are bifurcated at both theirouter and inner ends, the inner bifurcated ends of the upper and lowersegmental link-blocks 7 being pivotally bolted or secured at 8 to theouter extremities of a pair of spaced upper and lower parallel bracketarms 9. The spaced parallel bracket-arms 9 zontal position beneath thecar coupling-head ready for coupling with the companion head or shoe.The end portions of the parallel pivotal bracket-arms 9, opposite theirconnection with the spaced link-blocks 7, are pivoted, as at 11, to thependent hanger-post 12, which post is provided at one side, immedi atelyabove the uppermost bracket-arm 9,with a lateral stop-lug projection 13,against which the inner end of the uppermost arm 9 normally bears, so asto prevent the coupling head or shoe from dropping below its propercoupling position. The pendent hanger-post 12 is arranged in a verticalplane and is provided at its upper end with a pair of T-shapedlocking-heads 14, adapted to be secured in correspondingly-shapedrecesses or sockets formed in the upper side of the draw-bar 4 of thecar-coupling.

By reason of the specific form of hanging device for the air-brakecoupling head or shoe it will be obvious that such shoe can readilyadjust itself upward to engage or couple with a companion head or shoein a higher plane,

while at the same time the pivotal link-blocks 7 permit of the necessarylongitudinal play of the head or shoe to relieve the same from thestrain or jar incident to coupling.

The automatic air-brake coupling head or shoe 5 is provided at itsforward end with an inner beveledside portion 15,which facilitates thehead or shoe sliding into engagement with the companion head orshoe, andthe extreme front edge of the head orshoe is formed with anobtuse-angled indentation 16, which produces a beveled bill17 at thefront upper corner of the head or shoe, and the function of which willbe hereinafter more particularly referred to. On its outer face,directly opposite the inner front beveled side portion 15, the head orshoe is further provided with a solid surface 18, which is engaged bythe clamp of the companion head or shoe in the manner to be presentlyexplained, and in addition to the structural features referred to thehead or shoe is formed intermediate its ends with a transversefluid-passage 19, opening at its inner end into an orifice formed in theinner coupling-face of the head or shoe, and within which orifice isfitted an ordinary gasket 2O, which projects beyond the plane of theinner coupling-face of the head or shoe, so as to form an air-tightjoint with the corresponding gasket of the companion head or shoe in theusual way.

To provide for clamping the air-brake coupling head or shoe 5 to acompanion head or shoe, there is employed a laterally-movable rigidclamp-yoke 21, which loosely embraces the rear end portion of the heador shoe and head or shoe. connection with the clamp 2l'is the same asthe corresponding construction disclosed in .Patent No. 581,891 inconnection with the has a sliding movement on the upper and lower edgesof the head or shoe at one side of the guide-shoulders 22, formed atsaid upper and lower edges of the head or shoe. The laterally-movableclamp-yoke 21 is substantially rectangular in form and is provided onthe inner faces of its upper and lower side portions intermediate theends of said side portions with the stop-lugs 23, arranged to workagainst the inner side of the coupling head or shoe to limit themovement of the yoke in one direction, and the outer side portion of therectangular yoke 21 has bolted centrally thereto, by means of the bolt21, the movable piston 25, carrying a packing-washer 26 and working inthe circular air-chamber 27, formed in the outer side of the couplinghead or shoe and communicating with one end of a longitudinally-arrangedair-port 28, formed within the coupling head or shoe and alsocommunicating with the transverse fluidpassage 6 through the head orshoe. The air-chamber 27. is also in direct communication with thetrain-pipe orifice 29, formed in the inner side of the head or shoe nearthe rear end thereof and having fitted therein the usual train-pipe 30,which train-pipe is designed to occupy its usual position under the bodyof the car and extends through a pipeopening 31, formed centrally in theinner side portion of the rectangular yoke 21. The said rectangular yoke21 has projected from its vertically-disposed inner side portion aforwardly-extendin g rigid clamping-arm 32,having a beveled front end 33and adapted to be drawn into clamping engagement with the solidclamping-surface 18 of a companion The action of the piston 25 inclamping-spring. It is understood that when the cars are uncoupled theclamp 21 will be free to move in a lateral direction and spread away sufficiently from the inner coupling-face of the head or shoe, so as toengage with the companion head or shoe, and when the heads or shoes arecoupled together the air will exert an outward pressure against thepistons of the coupled heads or shoes, thereby draw- 8 ing theclamping-arms of the cl'amp-yokes inward, so as to tightly clamp thecouplingfaces of the opposing heads or shoes together, as clearlyillustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawin-gs.

To adapt the air-brake coupling head or shoe for use in connection withan unlike airbrake coupling 34-such, for instance, as the Westinghouseair-brake hose-coupling,which is fitted to a brake hose-pipe 35a shortoffsta-nding interchange coupling-nipple 36 is employed. Thiscoupling-nipple is fitted at its inner end in the orifice at the outerend of the fluid-passage 1 9 and is provided at itsouter disclosed in mypending application Serial No. 622,346, and having fitted thereto apivotal dust-cap 38, secured in its closed position by means of thelocking-dog 39, which dog also serves to clamp the coupling 34 onto thehead or ring 37. It will be understood in this connection that when theunlike air-brake hose or similar coupling 34 is coupled to the head 37the cap 38 is lowered out of the way, and vice versa.

To provide for the total exclusion of dust from the interior of theair-brake coupling head or shoe when not in use a swinging dustshieldarm 40 is employed in connection with the orifice of the innercoupling-face of the head or shoe. This swinging dust-shield arm 40 actsas a cut-off valve and is pivoted at its lower end, as at 41, to theinner side of the coupling head or shoe, at the lower edge thereof, andat its upper end, opposite the pivot thereof, the dust-shield arm isprovided with alaterally-disposed hook 42, having a beveled upper side43 and adapted to straddle and engage with the top edge of the couplinghead or shoe. At a point intermediate its ends the said pivotal swingingdust-shield arm 40 is provided with a cap projection 44, adapted to fittight against the gasket 20 to make an airtight joint therewith, and toinsure the firm contact of the projection 44 with the gasket 20 thecoupling head or shoe 5 is formed at one side of its upper edge with awedge projection 45, with which the hook 42 engages when the arm 40 isin its normal closed position.

The swinging pivotal dust-shield arm 40 is provided intermediate of itsends at its outer side with a pair of lugs 46, between which is securedthe inner end of an obtuse-angled offstanding guide or guard tongue 47,lying opposite and beyond the front beveled side portion 15 of the heador shoe and adapted to be engaged by the front edge of the companionhead or shoe. Normally the dustshield arm 40 occupies the positionillustrated in Fig. 1,and thereby disposes the guide or guard tongue 47in the position just described, so that when the front edge of thecompanion head or shoe strikes the tongue 47 the latter serves todeflect the heads or shoes into proper coupling engagement,while at thesame time the arm 40 is thrown back to the position indicated in Fig. 5,so as to uncover the coupling-orifice of the head or shoe.

Then it is desired that the shield-arm 40 be thrown forward to itsnormal position, so as to cover the coupling-orifice when the cars areuncoupled, there may be employed an adjusting-hook 48, swiveled at oneend, as at 49 to the upper side of the clamp-yoke 21 and provided at itsfree end with a beveled beak or nose 49, engaging with the beveled upperside 43 of the hook 42. With the beak of the hook 48 engaged with theupper end of the shieldarm 40 said hook will draw or pull'the shieldarmto its forward closed position when the cars are uncoupled, it beingunderstood that the beak 49 automatically rides out of engage ment withthe beveled upper end 43 of the arm 40. The said hook 48is adjustedmanually to its operative position just before the uncoupling takesplace.

With the shield 40 in its closed position and the dust-cap 38 closed itwill be observed that dust is completely excluded from the interior ofthe coupling head or shoe, while at the same time the necessity of theusual cut-off cock in the train-pipe is dispensed with, as explained inthe application herein referred to.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of constructionmay be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificingany of the advantages of this invention.

is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is v 1. In acoupling of the class described, the

combination with the car coupling-head, and the air-brake coupling heador shoe arranged therebelow, of a pair of pivotally-supportedbracket-arms, and movable link connections.

between the forward ends of said arms and the inner or rear end of theair-brake coupling head or shoe, substantially as set forth.

2. In a coupling of the class described, the combination with the carcoupling-head and draw-bar, and the air-brake coupling head or shoearranged therebelow, of a pendent hanger-post provided at its upper endwith a pair of T-shaped locking-heads secured in correspondingly-shapedrecesses or sockets formed in the draw-bar, a pair of connected swingingbracket-arms pivoted to said hangerpost, and pivotal link connectionsbetweenthe forward ends of said bracket-arms and the rear end of theair-brake coupling head or provided at its forward end with an innerbeveled side portion and at its front upper corner with a beveled bill,an offstanding guide or guardtongue normally lying opposite and beyondsaid front beveled side portion, and a clamp mounted on the head or shoeand adapted to engage with the outer side of a companion head or shoe,substantially as set forth.

5. In a coupling of the class described, an automatic air-brake couplinghead or shoe, a laterally-movable rigid clamp-yoke loosely embracing therear end portion of the head or shoe, and means for tightening saidclamp Having thus described the invention, what slidably embracing therear end portion of the head or shoe and provided with a forwardlyextending rigid clamping arm projected centrally from the inner sideportion of the yoke and adapted to engage against the outer side of thecompanion heador shoe, and a pressure-adjusted connection between theouter side of said yoke and the coupling head or shoe, substantially asset forth.

8. In a coupling of the class described, an automatic air-brake couplinghead or shoe, having an interior fluid-passage and an orifice in itscoupling-face, and a dust-shield arm pivotally supported at the innerside of the coupling head or shoe and carrying an offstandingguide-tongue for receiving the impact-of the companion head orshoe,:substa11- tially asset forth.

9. In a coupling of the class described, an automatic air-brake couplinghead or shoe having an interior fluid-passage and an orifice in itscoupling-face, and a swinging dustshield arm adapted to work 'over saidorifice and pivoted at its lowerend to the inner side of the couplinghead or shoe, said dust-shield arm being provided at its upper end witha laterally-disposed hook adapted to straddle I and engage with the topedge-of the coupling head or shoe, and carrying at a point intermediateof its ends an ofistanding forwardlydisposed guide or guard tongue,substantially as set forth.

10. .In a coupling of the class describe'd,an automatic air-brakecoupling head or shoe having an interior fluid-passage and anorifico inits coupling-face, a swinging shield-arm adapted to work over saidorifice and carrying at a point intermediate its ends an obtuseangledoffstanding guide or guard tongue, said shield-arm being provided at itsupper end with a hook having a beveled upper side and engaging with thetop edge of the head or shoe, and an adj usting-hook having a swiveledsupport at one end on the head or shoe and provided at its free end witha beveled beak or nose adapted to be engagedwith the beveled upper sideof the shield-arm hook of the companion head or shoe,substantially asset forth.

11. Ina couplingof the class described, an automatic air-brake couplinghead or shoe h-avingan interior fluid-passage and an orifice in itscoupling-face, and a movable dustshield arm supported at the inner sideof the heador shoe and carrying atongue for receiving the impact of thecompanion head or shoe, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in thepresence of two witnesses.

JAMES BRYANT THOMAS.

